Following weeks of suspension to observe the Grand Magal of Touba, Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko has returned to the campaign trail with renewed energy. The pause, necessitated by religious observances, has ended as the party resumes its push toward a critical membership milestone.
The renewal of activities comes after a highly successful initial phase that began in Touba during the 48H Pastef event, where the campaign was officially launched. Since then, the tour has moved through key locations including Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké. Each stop has drawn massive crowds, with some locations seeing card sales sell out within hours, prompting urgent restocking efforts to meet overwhelming demand.
On July 26, the momentum continued as the party marked the launch of its new presidential movement, Kiiraay, during a visit to Mbacké. At this event, Sonko reiterated the party’s ambitious target of reaching one million members by October—a goal he emphasized could be achieved partly through contributions from the Mbacké region alone, as he had previously stated.
This renewed push unfolds amid a politically charged atmosphere. Recent weeks have seen growing tensions between Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside the formation of the new Kiiraay party, which has led to the departure of several high-profile figures from Pastef. In response, Sonko has urged supporters to remain focused on the campaign’s objectives and refrain from engaging with internal divisions, calling for unity in advancing the membership drive.
